STORRS — Graham Stewart killed time during spring break sitting on the couch at home in Durham, petting Bud White — the family dog — a pit bull who is nothing like the violent "L.A. Confidential" character he's named after.

"No, he's a softy," Stewart said.

That is something Stewart cannot afford to be on the football field. He needs to get after it, so getting back to practice felt good.

"I was telling the guys in practice how bored I was. ... I just couldn't wait to get back and play football," Stewart said.

Monday was back-to-the-grind day for the UConn football team; the fifth of 15 spring practices began at around 9:30 a.m. The Huskies' fourth practice was more than a week ago, March 13.

"Monday mornings are a little challenge for everyone," second-year coach Bob Diaco said. "It's in our DNA. ... Today is always a concern, and they did a fantastic job with it. The team, I knew right away, sitting in the team meeting, that there's just a different look, a different energy, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, ready to work, excited to be back together, and I know we all feel that way."

The Huskies finished 2-10 last season and will use the next few weeks to get done what they can now in preparation for preseason practice in the summer. The 15th practice actually is the annual Blue-White Spring Game April 11 (3 p.m.) at Rentschler Field.

Coach Bob Diaco said Pruitt's decision was based on a lower leg injury stemming from a genetics issue that had already caused him to miss two games.

Pruitt sat on a panel titled "Behind The Facemasks: The Voices...

STORRS — Angelo Pruitt left the UConn football program as a senior last September.

Coach Bob Diaco said Pruitt's decision was based on a lower leg injury stemming from a genetics issue that had already caused him to miss two games.

Pruitt sat on a panel titled "Behind The Facemasks: The Voices...

(DESMOND CONNER)

"It's different from guy to guy, but as a team, collectively, we all know we're on a mission," safety Andrew Adams said. "We have a mentality of 'work now, play later.'"

Around this time last year, Diaco, just getting to know the team and vice versa, was not happy with how the team responded to him calling the team to huddle up after drills. He made them do it again.

They've been together a year and change now. Everyone knows what to expect. The team snapped to Diaco and every other coach, when whistles blew or horns sounded and also in the 11-on-11 competition.

"It's a speed drill more than it is a contact drill," Diaco said. "It's mostly about the speed that they move and the speed of communication and the challenge of communication. It was clear rather than being off, they went away. They came back ready to work."

QB Watch

Diaco said one of the quarterbacks is beginning to separate himself from the others, but wouldn't say which one. Junior Tim Boyle, who has the most experience at UConn; sophomore Bryant Shirreffs and freshman Tyler Davis are the three going at it.

"We're pleased with the position. We're pleased with the battle," Diaco said. "That position is going to be able to grow and get bigger here in the summer. ... The competition between those three has been good, and there has been some separation."

Putting the quarterbacks through various situations as the spring progresses should make things clearer.

"Guys will flourish as this string of situations unfold that all require a different style of quarterbacking," Diaco said.

The Huskies were nothing short of a disaster inside the opponents' 20 last season. They made it to the red zone only 24 times, 125th in the country, and got just six touchdowns out of those chances.

The media is only allowed in for about 20-30 minutes of practice. Boyle looked sharp, throwing the ball with more force and accuracy than last season, but Diaco said he would wait to see how things progressed this week before saying publicly who the leader is at this point.

Diaco said he still intends to name a starter at the end of spring practice, even though he has Laney (Calif.) Junior College transfer Garrett Anderson coming in for the summer. Anderson is going to have a chance to compete for the job.

"Everybody is competing all the time," Diaco said. "So there's nothing that's always or forever. You may have a guy who started for three years and in his senior year, if he lets go of the rope and another guy performs better, then that guy will play. We'll name a starter at that point after spring, and if he gets beat out in [summer] camp, then he gets beat out."

Picking Up The Offense

Senior tight end Sean McQuillan said the offense is getting better.

"You can already see a huge difference from when we stepped out there in the fifth practice from the first," McQuillan said. "People are becoming more comfortable with offense now, the system. [New offensive coordinator Frank Verducci] has been a big help in making that transition smooth." ... The Huskies need to find a center to replace the departed Alex Mateas. Sophomore Ryan Crozier, who played in 10 games on the offensive line as a freshman and started three times at left guard, is the prime candidate at this point. ... Anderson's transfer is complete, and he's eligible to play this year. UConn would like to get E.J. Levenberry, a transfer linebacker from Florida State, eligible, but it's not clear that will happen.